Permission-Giving and Marital Infidelity |
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Authors: | Michelle M Jeanfreau Angel Herring Anthony P Jurich? |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Child and Family Studies, The University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach, Mississippi, USAmichelle.jeanfreau@usm.edu;3. Department of Child and Family Studies, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA;4. School of Family Studies, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTThe research used qualitative methods to begin exploring how individual’s decision-making enhances their risk of having a marital affair. Particularly how does a woman give herself permission to move forward with having an affair? Semistructured interviews were recorded with women who had a marital affair and then transcribed in preparation for coding. The transcendental phenomenological model was used to analyze the data collected. Sensitizing concepts were used as a base in identifying how participants were able to limit their cognitive dissonance as a way of giving themselves permission to have an affair. The results found four methods of limiting cognitive dissonance: not being worthy of loyalty, rationalization, guilt-free infidelity, and compartmentalization. Clinical implications are discussed. |
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Keywords: | cognitive dissonance decision-making marital infidelity relationships |
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